Personal Award - Soccer Wiretap

Christian Pulisic Named U.S. Soccer Player Of Year For 4th Time

Jan 18, 2024 11:57 AM

Christian Pulisic was named U.S. Soccer's male player of the year for 2023. 

Pulisic has previously won the award in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Pulisic received 53% of the vote, followed by Yunus Musah (21.5%) and Ricardo Pepi(12.9%).

"It's an honor to win this award again for the fourth time," Pulisic said. "It was an incredible season for me. I always enjoy playing with the national team and winning more trophies with the national team. Of course, coming here to AC Milan, it's been just a really exciting year. I've enjoyed it so much, so I'm really grateful to win an award like this."

ESPN

Tags: A.C. Milan, United States, Personal Award

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Luciano Acosta Named 2023 MLS MVP

Nov 27, 2023 1:01 PM

FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta has been named the 2023 MLS MVP.

Acosta, 29, received 60.37% of the vote among players, media and technical staff to easily beat LAFC forward Denis Bouanga, who received 14.97%.

Acosta led the league with 31 goal contributions during the regular season, with 17 goals and 14 assists, and helped Cincinnati to their first Supporters Shield.

"I'm very proud of this team," Acosta said in a video produced by the team that was shot when he was told he had won the award.

"I think everybody deserves something this year. We deserve more. We have to give it our all. Let's go."

He later joked, "I don't want to go to practice. I won the MVP."

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Tags: Cincinnati, Personal Award

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Lionel Messi Wins 2023 Ballon D'Or

Oct 30, 2023 11:39 PM

Lionel Messi has won the 2023 Ballon d'Or, claiming the award for the eighth time in his career.

Messi led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup before moving from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami during the summer.

“I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had," said Messi. "Everything that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing.”

 

The Guardian

Tags: Argentina, Inter Miami, Paris Saint-Germain, Personal Award

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Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland On UEFA POTY Shortlist

Aug 17, 2023 3:27 PM

Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are on the three-man shortlist for the UEFA best player in Europe award for last season.

Messi won the UEFA award twice in its 12-year history, both in years when Barcelona were European champions. 

Manchester City won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles with De Bruyne and Haaland playing key roles. 

The winners will be announced at the Champions League draw on Aug. 31 in Monaco.

ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Personal Award

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Lionel Messi Named Best FIFA Men's Player

Feb 28, 2023 10:39 AM

Lionel Messi was named Best FIFA Men's Player at a ceremony in Paris on Monday.

"It's amazing. It was a tremendous year and it is an honor for me to be here tonight and win this award," said Messi, who sat next to Kylian Mbappe throughout the ceremony at the Salle Pleyel.

Monday's award was Messi's second FIFA The Best title, his first coming in 2019. He has also won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards.

"I want to express my thanks to [coach Lionel] Scaloni and my teammates; without them I would not be here," Messi added.

"I achieved a dream I had been hoping for so long and finally I achieved it. It's a dream for any player; very few people can achieve that and I was lucky enough to do so."

ESPN

Tags: Paris Saint-Germain, Personal Award

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Karim Benzema Wins 2022 Ballon D'Or

Oct 17, 2022 9:24 PM

Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in Paris.

Benzema, 34, scored a career-best 27 times in LaLiga and was top scorer in the Champions League with 15 goals, including hat tricks against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

Benzemia finished ahead of Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne, who came in second and third, respectively. PSG striker Kylian Mbappe came in sixth, while Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo was 20th.

"I'm really proud seeing this prize, it's been my dream since I was a kid. I grew up with this in my head, and after that I had the motivation," Benzema said.

"I had two role models in my life: Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] and [Brazil legend] Ronaldo. It's a lot of work; I never gave up and I kept that dream in my head. Anything is possible.

"It's been difficult for me. There was a time when I wasn't playing for the national team, but I didn't give up. It's been difficult for me and that just makes me stronger mentally. I'm really happy with my work."

Alex Kirkland, Sam Marsden/ESPN

Tags: Real Madrid, Personal Award

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Lionel Messi: 'No Doubt' Karim Benzema Deserves Ballon D'Or

May 31, 2022 8:11 AM

Lionel Messi believes Karim Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d'Or this year.

Benzema had the best season of his 13-year career at Real, scoring 44 goals with 15 assists in all competitions as they won a LaLiga-Champions League double.

"There are no doubts; it's very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up victorious in the Champions League," Messi said on Argentine television.

"He was fundamental in all the matches from the round of 16 onwards. I think there is no doubt this year."

The award will be presented on Oct. 17th ahead of the World Cup. The trophy will now be awarded on the basis of a regular season from August to July rather than a calendar year.

ESPN

Tags: Real Madrid, Personal Award

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Lionel Messi Wins Ballon D'Or For 7th Time

Nov 29, 2021 4:13 PM

Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or for a seventh time, beating out Robert Lewandowski.

Messi led Argentina to their first major trophy since 1993.

Messi now has two more Ballon d'Or awards than Cristiano Ronaldo. 

ESPN

Tags: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Personal Award

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Diego Rossi Becomes Youngest Player To Win MLS Golden Boot

Nov 9, 2020 11:24 AM

Diego Rossi finished the 2020 MLS regular season with 14 goals, becoming the youngest player to win the MLS Golden Boot.

Rossi is 22 years old and has scored 42 goals in 85 career appearances with LAFC.

ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles FC, Personal Award

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Kevin De Bruyne Named Premier League Player Of The Year

Aug 16, 2020 10:07 AM

Kevin De Bruyne has been named the Premier League Player of the season for 19-20.

De Bruyne helped City finish second in the Premier League, but they were a distant 18 points behind champions Liverpool.

De Bruyne had 13 goals with 20 assists.

ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, Personal Award

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Trent Alexander-Arnold Named Premier League Young Player Of The Year

ESPN

Bruno Fernandes Named Premier League Player Of The Month

ESPN

Didier Deschamps Contract Extended Through 2022 World Cup

Marca

Megan Rapinoe Wins Woman's Ballon D'Or Award

Paul MacInnes/The Guardian

Lionel Messi Wins Record Sixth Ballon D'Or

Paul MacInnes/The Guardian

Carlos Vela Named 2019 MLS MVP

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Vlatko Andonovski Named Manager Of USWNT

ESPN

Messi Wins FIFA Award For Top Men's Player Of 2019

ESPN

Virgil Van Dijk Named UEFA Men's Player Of The Year

BBC Sport

Messi, Ronaldo, Van Dijk Named UEFA POY Finalists
Virgil Van Dijk was voted both the Premier League Player of the Season and the Players' Player of the Year.

ESPN

PSG Extends Thomas Tuchel's Contract
Tuchel won a Ligue 1 title in his first season with the club.

Conor Clancy/Marca

Virgil Van Dijk Wins PFA Player of the Year
Van Dijk is the first defender since John Terry in 2005 to win the award.

ESPN

Virgil Van Dijk Expected To Win EPL Footballer Of The Year Awards
Virgil van Dijk has helped transform Liverpool's defense.

Simon Kuper/ESPN

Virgil Van Dijk Votes For Raheem Sterling For Player Of The Year
Van Dijk said his vote was down to either Sterling or Bernardo Silva.

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Raheem Sterling Awarded Premier League Player Of The Month
Sterling scored three goals and had three assists in November.

RealGM Staff Report

Josef Martinez Receives 2018 MLS MVP Award
Martinez set a new league record with 31 goals this season.

Tom Bogert/MLS Soccer

La Liga Features 14 Out Of Top 30 Players In Ballon d'Or Voting
Real Madrid players make up 8 out of the top 30 on the list.

La Liga Lowdown

Lionel Messi Finishes In 5th Place In Ballon d'Or Voting
It's the first time in 11 years the Argentine has finished outside of the top three for the award.

RealGM Staff Report

Luka Modric Wins 2018 Ballon D'Or
Luka Modric becomes the first winner of the award beyond Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi since 2007.

RealGM Staff Report

Luka Modric Wins FIFA's The Best Award
Luka Modric ended the decade-long streak held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

ESPN